Bosnia applies for EU membership

BELGRADE, Serbia

Bosnia’s president has submitted the country’s application to join the European Union.

Dragan Covic, chairman of Bosnia’s rotating presidency, gave the application to Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bert Koenders at the EU Council building on Monday.

After the ceremony, EU officials hailed Bosnia's "hard work" in reaching the application stage.

"This decision follows months of hard work by Bosnia’s leadership and, we believe, addresses the aspirations of the people of Bosnia.

“It is a day of celebration for all of us: only 20 years ago, it was in the Balkans where one of the most awful pages of the European history was written.

“Today we celebrate another step towards a united and peaceful continent," read a joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

"We want to catch up with all of our neighbors on the European path ... We are aware that we have a lot of work," Covic said.

According to Koenders, the onus is "now on Bosnia and Herzegovina to achieve results in the reforms".

Bosnia was recognized by the EU as a potential candidate for accession in 2003. The country was making slow but continuous progress but this came to a halt in 2011 due to judicial and administrative problems between Bosnia and EU.